STATE POLICE; NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER!!

Nigeria as a country, with roughly about 180 million inhabitants, is a country that have in recent times bedeviled by numerous security challenges. Ranging from the fulani herdsmen's persistent rampage in nearly all the geopolitical zones of the big west African state, to the boko haram insurgency in the northern region, particularly the northeast. This group by their MODUS OPERANDI needs no introduction. Nevertheless, the persistent oil theft and militancy down south, and the independent fighters in the east are also worthy of mention in this context. In recent years, many reforms have been touted to curb this menace of insecurity. Ranging from the call for specified grazing zones,  ranches to be set up in the herdsmen's path of migration and many others. on the issue of boko haram, there have been calls for improved security funding, proper and efficient intelligence gathering, motivation for the soldiers of the Nigerian army and all other security agency involved. But as its the norm in the gigantic west African country, implementation has always been a major issue. It has always been the issue of too much talk and less work.  These marauders also seem to be going nowhere soon, and this open sore of insecurity just keeps festering, as the means to properly dress it and keep it in check just seems to be failing. In recent times, there has even been an upgrade in the mode of action of these agents hampering collective growth. The newly formed partnership of Boko haram with the Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a very great source of concern. soft target bombings have been on the increase, barracks been sacked is now a daily occurrence, they have just become so daring their nefarious activities.

On the other side of the divide, crime rates has skyrocketed especially in the south west region of the country most of which have been attributed to killer Fulani herdsmen. Kidnappings, theft and all sorts of activities have reached a new threshold. The former minister of health most recently felt the heat of these range of actions. The Ile-Ife Ibadan expressway has now become one passage way, where travelers move through with dread, and supplications on their lips. Royal fathers and the respective governors of these concerned states seem non existent. Although there have been threats here and there on the sanctity of the Yoruba land, all these has yielded no gain. Then shall we continue to endlessly wait on that which is not?
Of the many solutions that have been provided to curb the persistent issue of security in Nigeria, is that of the establishment of state police departments. The devolving of the police structure, a deviation from the existing unifying structure of the police force and the establishment of regional police departments have been advised by security experts. Foremost political leaders have also lent their call to the dire need for the implementation of this initiative. well, now more than ever those on this side of divide seems to be right all along due to the increase in the many insecurity issues that have pervaded the country in recent times.

Nigeria as a country is a really populated one and using a centralized form of policing is one that comes with many challenges and technical requirements. Recently, the Nigeria governors forum met in the Fct with the president. In the meeting as i read, majority were strongly in favor of the establishment of a state police department. States with below par financial muscle had their governors putting up minimal resistance, but conclusion was reached on the fact that they would join at their own pace. While buoyant states like Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Cross river, ET AL affirmed of their readiness.
The many disadvantages that have been highlighted since the start of this debate is links of the police force to corruption, the tendency of these arms of the police force becoming watchdogs for the chief security officers of their respective states, the possibility of issues arising due to ethnic bias among others.
As mentioned earlier, Nigeria is a federalized country with enormous security challenges. The current workforce of the Nigerian police, which is about 350,000 officers may not be up to the task of effectively curbing the societal vices in the country.

Now more than ever, there is a dire need for state policing departments. At least if this would not commence in all the 36 states of the federation, the states with enough resources and manpower can latch unto this arrangement while others join the bandwagon later. Creation of state policing departments would sure foster economic integration, faster resolution of conflicts and regional conflicts, promote sectional development and on the long run that of the whole country. It would improve the national employment status, and overall national development.  The recent meeting with the president by the union of governors is that which is expected to yield maximum results in no time. Conclusions have also been made towards submitting the resolutions of the meeting to the national assembly constitutional review committee for moves towards its prompt amendment in the related section of the 1999 constitution. With the increasing wave of insecurity particularly in the southwest region, where there are seldom happenings of such, there is no other time to begin the implementation of the creation of a state police. This is to effectively arrest this brewing crisis on time and bring the increasing tensions under control. lest we have a revisit of the Rwandan story.

As mentioned earlier, implementation of ideas has always been a serious issue in the country. I do hope this is not a similar scenario. I also do hope steps are taken, and actions are expedited towards this seemingly obvious solution to one of the problems affecting this great country. we do hope our expressways become kidnap free zones in no time, and our homes become safer.

_ ADESUA AYOMARIA PAUL
 a final year pharmacy student writes from Obafemi Awolowo university, ile -ife
 He can be reached on all social platforms.